Baltimore sits in the greatest innovation gold mine in the world. The National Capital Region headquartered by the Federal government now stretches far to the north of Baltimore and as far south as Tidewater, Virginia, with Baltimore being the second largest and Tidewater the third largest Federal government employment centers in the nation, after Washington DC. Over $150 billion has been spent in Maryland, DC and Virginia by the Federal government on research just this decade, averaging $18.5 billion per year, more than the entire state of California, which has 2.6 times our aggregate population. Our region has more scientist and engineers than any other US region. With all this talent and research money in our universities and Fed labs, probably more than any other location in the world, this region ranks 37th in converting that research to new innovation-based businesses and jobs, while California ranks no.1. What’s the problem?
The extended National Capital Region needs to organize itself to win. If the Federal labs and agencies, major research universities, state and local governments, private entrepreneurs, companies and investors start working together, this region could become the Silicon Valley of the East. In a decade we could lead the world in life sciences, security and energy. Our young entrepreneurs and scientists need to stay in this region to start their businesses. Our investors need to look right in their own backyard.
Maryland Governor O’Malley, Virginia Governor Kaine and DC Mayor Fenty have joined forces with their Congressional delegations, the Federal government and their seven major research universities (Johns Hopkins, UMD, GW, Georgetown, Virginia Tech, George Mason and University of Virginia) as well as major companies and business leaders to unite the extended National Capital Region to win the global innovation battle. Called The Chesapeake Crescent Initiative, named for the defining landmark uniting our region, The Chesapeake Crescent Initiative is dedicated to making our region no. 1 in life sciences, security and energy innovation businesses in a decade. George Vradenburg and myself, Herb Miller, joined forces to form and manage this bi-partisan team to ignite the opportunities for new innovation businesses in Maryland, DC and Virginia. We are dedicated to unlocking the billions of dollars in “shovel ready” innovation businesses and jobs now that the region is united to win.
It is imperative that ALL regions have a greater overall self-sufficiency than they do. A biological attack to silicon valley or other key regions points out just how vulnerable such places are and why each region should be able to produce most of its own goods. This is important for the environment, security, protection against natural disasters and just about any pandemic or disaster you can think of.
Being more self-sufficient is also critical at the household level. To have such capable shops in our own homes however–shopps able to produce mountain bikes or engine parts–we need better, far more productive homes and communities that share common areas of the home in favor of up to 2000 square meters of shop, office, and craft space in a typical 23 bedroom home. By using our HOMES as the underlying key to self-sufficiency, we lower our travel times, increase personal time and savings, lower our environmental impact as well as secure ourselves from disasters. In truth, there is no way to get around it… a single larger communal home that provides ample privacy and yet shares kitchen and living areas, will always be more efficient than any plan based on individual homes of an equivalent capacity.
Mr. Miller: The vision of The Chesapeake Crescent is innvative and essential. Over the past few years, I have been working with a number of executives and organizations who share these same objectives. As a passionate proponent of collaboration to benefit all the participants, I would welcome the opportunity to discuss these possibilities further. Kindly contact me at your convenience. Thank you for your consideration. Jonathan M. Genn (jonathan@percontee.com)
I agree completely! As a Hopkins professor, I have seen the effects of an academic culture that in the past has focused nobly on fundamentals but with some disdain for translational efforts to spin-off new ideas into businesses in our local community. I’m happy to say that there is a new attitude at the institution among young faculty and school leadership, especially reflected in our Tech Transfer departments. I think we will see many more fundamental and applied academic innovations becoming business realities, and hopefully more of them in Baltimore.
I wholeheartedly support Mr. Miller’s vision. I would further emphasize that the academics and science/tech research like to share their ideas in journals, which is important, but particularly in the health area, people are making their own choices. The media community (film, etc) in MD should be ignited with the goal of compelling dissemination of new knowledge and its meaning for people’s lives. We could be the leaders in this area with the talent that’s around us.